Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2004 Session > Title 9

This statutory database is current through the 2004 Regular Session of the South Carolina General Assembly. Changes to the statutes enacted by the 2005 General Assembly, which will convene in January 2005, will be incorporated as soon as possible. Some changes enacted by the 2005 General Assembly may take immediate effect. The State of South Carolina and the South Carolina Legislative Council make no warranty as to the accuracy of the data, and users rely on the data entirely at their own risk.






SECTION 9-11-10. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:

(1) "Accumulated additional contributions" means a member's aggregate additional contributions, together with regular interest on the contributions.

(2) "Accumulated contributions" means the sum of all the amounts deducted from the compensation of a member and credited to the member' s individual account in the employee annuity savings fund, together with regular interest on the account, as provided in this chapter.

(3) "Active member" means a member who is compensated by an employer participating in the system and who is making regular retirement contributions to the system.

(4) "Actuarial equivalent" means a benefit of equal value when computed on the basis of the tables and regular interest rate last adopted by the board, as provided in Section 9-11-30.

(5) "Aggregate additional contributions" means the sum of all the contributions made by a member pursuant to Section 9-11-210 in effect before July 1, 1974, and any amounts transferred from another fund which are treated as additional contributions pursuant to Section 9-11-210 in effect before July 1, 1974, or Section 9-11-210(6) as amended as of that date.

(6) "Aggregate contributions" means the sum of all the amounts deducted from the compensation of a member and credited to the member's individual account in the system, including any amounts transferred from another fund to the system as provided in Section 9-11-210(6).

(7) "Average final compensation after July 1, 1986" means the average annual compensation of a member during the twelve consecutive quarters of the member's creditable service on which regular contributions as a member were made to the system producing the highest average; a quarter means a period January through March, April through June, July through September, or October through December. An amount up to and including forty-five days' termination pay for unused annual leave at retirement may be added to the average final compensation. Average final compensation for an elected official may be calculated as the average annual earnable compensation for the thirty-six consecutive months prior to the expiration of his term of office.

(8) "Beneficiary" means a person in receipt of a retirement allowance or other benefit provided by the system.

(9) "Board" means the State Budget and Control Board acting through its Division of Retirement Systems.

(10) "Class one service" means credited service which is not class two service.

(11) "Class two service" means credited service after June 30, 1974, as a class two member, as defined in subsection (7) of Section 9-11-40, and credited service before July 1, 1974, or date of membership, if later, with respect to which contributions have been made by a member, or on the member's behalf, under the supplemental allowance program or pursuant to subsection (2), (3), or (10) of Section 9-11-210.

(12) "Compensation" means the total remuneration paid to a police officer for service rendered to an employer for his full normal working time; when compensation includes maintenance, fees and other things of value, the board shall fix the value of that part of the compensation not paid in money directly by the employer.

(13) "Credited service" means a member's earned service and purchased service.

(14) "Date of establishment" means July 1, 1962.

(15) "Earned service" means:

(a) the paid employment of a member of the system with an employer participating in the system where the member makes regular retirement contributions to the system;

(b) service rendered while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education that has been purchased pursuant to Section 9-11-50(F); or

(c) service with a participating employer in the system, the South Carolina Retirement System, the Retirement System for Members of the General Assembly, or the Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors that is transferred to or purchased in the system.

(16) "Educational service" means paid service as a classroom teacher in a public, private, or sectarian school providing elementary or secondary education, kindergarten through grade twelve.

(17) "Employer" means:

(a) the State;

(b) a political subdivision, agency, or department of the State which employs police officers and which has been admitted to the system as provided in Section 9-11-40; and

(c) a service organization, the membership of which is composed solely of persons eligible to be members as defined by this section, if the compensation received by the employees of the service organization is provided from monies paid by the members as dues, or otherwise, or from funds derived from public sources and if the contributions prescribed by this chapter are to be paid from the funds of the service organization.

(18) "Medical board" means the board provided for in Section 9-11-30(2).

(19) "Member" means a person included in the membership of the system, as provided in this chapter.

(20) "Military service" means:

(a) service in the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, or United States Coast Guard;

(b) service in the select reserve of the Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, or the Coast Guard Reserve; and

(c) service as a member of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard of this or any other state.

(21) "Nonqualified service" means purchased service other than public service, educational service, military service, leave of absence, and reestablishment of withdrawals.

(22) "Other fund" means:

(a) the South Carolina Retirement System; or

(b) the Police Insurance and Annuity Fund of the State of South Carolina.

(23) "Police officer" means a person who receives his salary from an employer and who is:

(a) required by the terms of his employment, either by election or appointment, to give his time to the preservation of public order, the protection of life and property, and the detection of crimes in this State; or

(b) an employee after January 1, 2000, of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, or the South Carolina Department of Mental Health who, by the terms of his employment, is a peace officer as defined by Section 24-1-280.

Notwithstanding prior duties performed by a person who is a police officer as defined in this item, the provisions of Section 9-11-40(9) apply to a person who is or who becomes a member of the Police Officers Retirement System.

(24) "Public Service" means service as an employee of the government of the United States, any state or political subdivision of the United States, or any agency or instrumentality of any of these. The term "public service" does not include "educational service" or "military service" as defined in this section.

(25) "Purchased service" means service credit purchased by an active member while an employee of an employer participating in the system.

(26) "Regular interest" means interest compounded annually at the rate or rates determined for a particular purpose by the board in accordance with Section 9-11-30.

(27) "Retirement allowance" means monthly payments for life under the system payable as provided in Section 9-11-160.

(28) "State" means the State of South Carolina.

(29) "Supplemental allowance program" means the supplemental allowance program established under the system as of July 1, 1966, and as in effect on June 30, 1974.

(30) "System" means the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System.

SECTION 9-11-15. Payments to beneficiaries may include payments to persons, trustees, and estates.

Payments made to beneficiaries pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may include payments to a person or persons, trustees, and estates.

SECTION 9-11-20. System created; corporate powers; name; Director.

(1) A retirement system is hereby created and placed under the administration of the Board to provide retirement allowances and other benefits for police officers. The System shall begin operation as of July 1, 1962. It shall have the power and privileges of a corporation and shall be known as the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System, and by such name all of its business shall be transacted, all of its funds invested, and all of its cash, securities and other property held.

(2) There is hereby created an office to be known as Director of the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System. The Director of the South Carolina Retirement System shall serve as Director of this System.

SECTION 9-11-25. Retirement of probate judges.

Probate judges may elect to participate in the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System or they may elect to remain under regular state retirement.

SECTION 9-11-27. Magistrates' participation in the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System.

(A) On and after January 1, 2001, any person who is a magistrate appointed pursuant to Section 22-1-10 shall participate in the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System for his service as a magistrate.

(B) From July 1, 2000, to January 1, 2001, a magistrate who elects to transfer credited service received under the South Carolina Retirement System to the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System may do so upon payment of the accumulated employer and employee contributions and interest in the South Carolina Retirement System plus five percent of his annual salary in effect as of June 30, 2000, for each year of service prorated for periods of less than a year. After January 1, 2001, a magistrate may elect to transfer credited service received under the South Carolina Retirement System to the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System as provided in Section 9-11-40(9).

SECTION 9-11-30. State Budget and Control Board shall administer System; powers and duties.

(1) The general administration and responsibility for the proper operation of the System and for making effective the provisions hereof are hereby vested in the State Budget and Control Board.

(2) The Board shall designate a medical board to be composed of three physicians who are not members of the System. If required, other physicians who are not members of the System may be employed to report on special cases. The medical board shall arrange for and pass upon all medical examinations required under the System, shall investigate all essential statements and certificates by or on behalf of a member in connection with an application for disability retirement, and shall report in writing to the Board its conclusions and recommendations upon all matters referred to it.

(3) The Board shall engage such actuarial and other services as shall be required to transact the business of the System.

(4) The Board shall designate an actuary who shall be the technical adviser of the Board on matters regarding the operation of the System and shall perform such other duties as are required in connection therewith and shall be a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

(5) At least once in each five-year period following the date of establishment, the actuary shall make an actuarial investigation into the mortality, service and compensation experience of the members and beneficiaries of the System and shall make a valuation of the contingent assets and liabilities of the System and the Board, after taking into account the results of such investigations and valuations, shall adopt for the System such mortality, service and other tables as shall be deemed necessary.

(6) On the basis of regular interest and tables last adopted by the Board the actuary shall make an annual valuation of the contingent assets and liabilities of the System.

(7) The Board shall keep in convenient form such data as shall be necessary for the actuarial valuation of the contingent assets and liabilities of the System and for checking the experience of the System.

(8) The Board shall determine from time to time the rate or rates of regular interest for use in all calculations.

(9) Subject to the limitations hereof, the Board shall, from time to time, establish rules and regulations for the administration of the System and for the transaction of business.

(10) The Board shall keep a record of all its proceedings under this article which shall be open to public inspection. It shall publish an annual report showing the fiscal transactions of the System for the preceding year, the amount of the accumulated cash and securities of the System and the last balance sheet showing the financial condition of the System by means of an actuarial valuation of the contingent assets and liabilities of the System. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law governing the System, all persons employed by the Board and the expenses of the Board to carry out the provisions of this chapter shall be paid from the interest earnings of the System.

SECTION 9-11-40. Application to become an employer under System; membership in System; classification of members; transfer of contributions and credited service to South Carolina Retirement System; continuation of membership in correlated systems.

(1)(a) A county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the State, and an agency or department of a political subdivision or service organization referred to in Section 9-11-10(17)(c) in its discretion, may become an employer by applying to the board for admission to the system and by complying with the requirements of this section and the rules and regulations of the board. The application must set forth the requested date of admission, which must be the January first, or the April first, or the July first, or the October first next following receipt by the board of the application, except that in the case of any applications received before January 1, 1963, the requested date of admission may be July 1, 1962.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such application is received prior to July 1, 1966, the requested date of the admission shall be July 1, 1962; provided that contributions are made to the System within the calendar year 1966, in such manner as the Board deems reasonable, by the political subdivision seeking such admission and each and every police officer in its employ who will become a member following such admission, in amounts respectively equal to the total contributions which they would have made had such political subdivision become an employer as of July 1, 1962.

(c) When such application is received after June 30, 1966 and prior to April 1, 1974, the requested date of such admission may be July 1, 1962, without loss or prejudice to their affected employees' claims to prior service credits but such electing employers and their employees shall be subject to the payment of such contributions, if any, as the Board may determine to be necessary to avoid any possible discrimination as against employers and employees coming under the terms hereof at an earlier date.

(d) An employer whose requested date of admission is on or after July 1, 1974, shall agree to make contributions on account of all service before the date of admission rendered by members in its employ who make contributions with respect to such service.

(2) In no event will admission as an employer be allowed unless a majority of all persons then employed as police officers by the prospective employer elect irrevocably to become members of the System as of the requested date of admission.

(3) Any employer participating in the System as of June 30, 1974 which is not participating in the Supplemental Allowance Program may elect as of July 1, 1974 or as of July 1 of any year thereafter to provide Class Two membership for police officers in its employ and thereby enable them to qualify for benefits based on Class Two service. Any such employer who so elects shall agree to pay the increased rate of employer contributions applicable to Class Two members with respect to police officers in its employ who become Class Two members. The police officers in the employ of any such employer which does not make such election shall be entitled only to the benefits herein provided with respect to Class One service.

(4) All persons who become employed as police officers by the State or other employer after the employer's date of admission to the system under the provisions of this section must become members, as a condition of their employment.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, no person shall become a member on or after July 1, 1963 unless his employer certifies to the system that his service as a police officer requires at least one thousand six hundred hours a year of active duty and that the person's salary for the service is at least two thousand dollars a year. If in any year after this certification the member does not render at least one thousand six hundred hours of active duty as a police officer, or if the member does not receive at least two thousand dollars in salary, his membership ceases and the provisions of Section 9-11-100 apply.

(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be eligible to participate in the System as a member and in another fund with respect to the same position nor shall any person be entitled to receive duplicate benefits for the same period of service in the same position.

(6) All persons who are employed as police officers by an employer at the date of the employer's admission to the System shall become members as of such date unless, within a period of one month following such date, they shall have filed with the Board on a form prescribed by the Board a notice of their election not to be covered in the membership and duly executed waiver of all present and prospective benefits which would otherwise inure to them on account of their participation in the System.

(7) Each member shall be classified as either a Class One member or a Class Two member, as hereinafter provided, and shall make the contributions and be eligible for the benefits provided for his class. Each member who is a participant in the Supplemental Allowance Program as of June 30, 1974 shall be a Class Two member. Any other police officer who became a member prior to July 1, 1974 and who is employed by the State or by an employer which is participating in the Supplemental Allowance Program as of June 30, 1974 or which elects to provide Class Two membership for police officers in its employ may elect by written notice filed with the Board within 60 days after July 1, 1974 to become a Class Two member as of said date, provided that any such member who is not in service as of July 1, 1974 may make such election within 60 days after his return to service. Any police officer becoming a member on or after July 1, 1974 who is employed by the State or by an employer which has elected to provide Class Two membership for police officers in its employ shall become a Class Two member. Any member employed by an employer whose date of admission is on or after July 1, 1974 shall be a Class Two member. Any member who is not a Class Two member shall be a Class One member.

(8) Should any member of the System withdraw his accumulated contributions or die or retire under the provisions hereof, he shall thereupon cease to be a member. The membership of any police officer entering the Armed Service of the United States shall be continued during such period in the Armed Service if he does not withdraw his contributions, and such member shall be considered to have accrued service credit during such period in the Armed Service if he returns to service as a police officer for an employer within ninety days after first becoming eligible for a discharge from such Armed Service and if, within one year following such return, he makes the contributions which he would have made had he continued in service as a police officer during such period.

(9) As used in this item, "correlated system" shall mean one or more of the following:

(a) South Carolina Retirement System;

(b) South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System;

(c) Retirement System for Members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina.

If a member of any correlated system ceases to occupy a position covered under the System and if, within the protective period and under such conditions as are set forth in the correlated system for continuation of membership therein, he accepts a position covered by another correlated system, he shall notify the Director of each System of such employment, and his membership in the first System must be continued so long as his membership in the other System continues. Service credited to the member under the provisions of the first System must be considered service credits for the purpose of determining eligibility for benefits, but not the amount thereof, under the other System. Any benefit under any one of the correlated systems must be computed solely on the basis of service and contributions credited under that System, and must be payable at such times and subject to such age and service conditions as are set forth therein, except the average final salary under either the South Carolina Retirement System or the Police Officers Retirement System may be used for the benefit calculation under both systems for consecutive earned service credit. A member is not eligible to receive retirement payments so long as he is employed in a position covered by the South Carolina Retirement System or the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System.

A member of the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System may transfer credited service he received under the South Carolina Retirement System to the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System on payment of accumulated employer and employee contributions and interest in the South Carolina Retirement System plus five percent of current compensation for each year of service prorated for periods of less than a year.

Service transferred under this subsection that was earned in the South Carolina Retirement System is "earned service" and counts toward the required five or more years of earned service necessary for benefit eligibility. With respect to service transferred to the system under this subsection, compensation earned while participating in the South Carolina Retirement System is not earnable compensation under the system and shall not be used in calculating a member's average final compensation.

(10) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any county, municipality or other political subdivision of the State, and any agency or department thereof which is participating in the South Carolina Retirement System with respect to firemen in its employ, may become an employer under the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System with respect to such firemen by applying to the Board for admission to the System and complying with the rules and regulations of the Board. Such application shall set forth the requested date of admission which shall be July 1, 1976, or any subsequent July first, next following receipt by the Board of such application.

In no event will admission as an employer under this subsection be allowed unless a majority of all persons then employed as firemen by the prospective employer elect irrevocably to become members of the System as of the requested date of admission.

All persons who are employed as firemen by such employer at the date of the employer's admission to the System shall become members as of such date unless, within a period of one month following such date, they shall have filed with the Board on a form prescribed by the Board a notice of their election not to be covered in the membership and a duly executed waiver of all present and prospective benefits which would otherwise inure to them on account of their participation in the System.

All persons who become employed as firemen by the State or other employer after the employer's date of admission to the System under the provisions of this subsection shall become members, as a condition of their employment.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, no fireman shall become a member on or after July 1, 1976, unless the member's employer certifies to the system that his service as a fireman requires at least one thousand, six hundred hours a year of active duty and that the member's salary for the service is at least two thousand dollars a year. If in any year after this certification the member does not render at least one thousand, six hundred hours of active duty as a fireman, or if the member does not receive at least two thousand dollars in salary, his membership ceases and the provisions of Section 9-11-100 apply.

Each fireman who becomes a member of the System as provided in this subsection shall be classified as a Class Two member and shall make the contributions and be eligible for the benefits provided for Class Two members. With respect to his service while a member of the System, any fireman who becomes a member of the System pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to all of the provisions of this article which would be applicable if he were a police officer.

If a fireman is a member of the South Carolina Retirement System at the time he becomes a member of the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System his membership in the South Carolina Retirement System shall be continued so long as his membership in the South Carolina Police Officers System continues. Service credited to the member under the provisions of the South Carolina Retirement System shall be considered credited service for the purpose of determining eligibility for benefits, but not the amount thereof, under the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System. Any benefit under either one of these two correlated systems shall be computed solely on the basis of service and contributions credited under that System, but in determining the member's average final compensation, his compensation received during credited service under both Systems shall be taken into account. Such benefits shall be payable at such times and subject to such age and service conditions as provided under the respective Systems; provided, however, a member shall not be eligible to receive retirement payments so long as he is employed in a position covered by the South Carolina Retirement System or the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System. Notwithstanding the above, the disability retirement benefit shall only be paid from and based on the benefit provisions of the System to which the member is contributing at the time of disability and shall be based on the total of his credited service under both Systems. The amount of accumulated contributions of such disabled member which is credited to his account under the System to which he is not contributing at the time of disability, shall be transferred to the System from which his disability retirement benefit shall be paid.

SECTION 9-11-45. Employer may require members of local retirement system to become members of South Carolina Police Officers' Retirement System; maintenance of local system.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9-11-40, an employer who maintains a local retirement system for police officers prior to the date of admission may require all active members of that system to become members of this System on the date of admission. If this option is exercised, all assets of the local retirement system including accumulated member contributions, if any, not needed to meet the local retirement system's retiree liability, if any, must be transferred to this System as of the date of admission. Any actuarial accrued liabilities realized by the System on account of the transfer, as determined by the Board's actuary and not met by transferred assets, must be paid by the employer in a lump sum or in installments over a period not to exceed ten years, as the Board under uniform rules may determine. The asset transfer and employer payment, if required by this subsection, is in lieu of any other payments that would otherwise be required by this section.

The Board's actuary shall determine, for the protection of the current retirees of the local system, the amount of retainage necessary by the employer to meet this retiree liability and to have adequate revenue therefor; and the same must be retained and escrowed by the employer which will have the continuing responsibility to see that all retirement payments continue at present levels for current retirees until the death of the last survivor, including any costs of living increases in future years provided for in the local system plan.

SECTION 9-11-48. Transfer of local retirement system for firefighters to state system.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9-11-40, an employer who maintains a local retirement system for firefighters before the date of admission to the Police Officers' Retirement System may transfer the local system to the Police Officers' Retirement System by meeting the requirements of one of the following items:

(1)(a) The employer may require all active members and retirees or their beneficiaries of that local system to become members or beneficiaries of the South Carolina Police Officers' Retirement System on the date of admission. The date of admission is April 1, 1989, or at the beginning of any quarter thereafter. If this option is exercised, all assets of the local retirement system must be transferred to this system as of the date of admission. Any actuarial accrued liabilities realized by the system on account of the transfer, including retiree liability, as determined by the board's actuary and not met by transferred assets, must be paid by the employer in a lump sum or in installments over a period not to exceed ten years, as the board under uniform regulations may determine. The asset transfer and employer payment, if required by this subitem, is in lieu of any other payments that would otherwise be required by this subitem.

(b) Retirees or their beneficiaries transferred to this system shall receive benefits equal to those they received under the former local retirement system plus increases provided by law for beneficiaries of this system on or after the date of admission.

(c) If a retiree on the date of transfer is employed in employment covered by the system, the earnings limitation of Section 9-11-150(4) does not apply while the retiree remains in the same covered employment.

(2)(a) The employer may require all active members of the local retirement system for firefighters to become members of the South Carolina Police Officers' Retirement System on the date of admission. The date of admission is April 1, 1990, or at the beginning of any quarter thereafter. If this option is exercised, all assets of the local retirement system including accumulated member contributions, if any, not needed to meet the local retirement system's retiree liability, if any, must be transferred to this system as of the date of admission. Any actuarial accrued liabilities realized by the system on account of the transfer, as determined by the board's actuary and not met by transferred assets, must be paid by the employer in a lump sum or in installments over a period not to exceed ten years, as the board under uniform rules may determine. The asset transfer and employer payment, if required by this subitem, is in lieu of any other payments that would otherwise be required by this subitem.

(b) The board's actuary shall determine the amount of assets necessary to be retained to provide the funds to meet retiree liability. The amount determined must be retained and escrowed by the employer. The employer has the continuing responsibility to insure that retirement benefits of current retirees continue at current levels, including cost-of-living increases in future years as provided in the local retirement system, until the death of the last survivor.

SECTION 9-11-50. Establishing service credit by making payments into the system; reestablishment of service credits; employer payments; credit for unused sick leave; rules and regulations.

(A) An active member may establish service credit for any period of paid public service by making a payment to the system to be determined by the board, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated. A member may not establish credit for a period of public service for which the member also may receive a retirement benefit from another defined benefit retirement plan. A member may not establish service credit for public service to the extent such service purchase would violate Section 415 or any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code.

(B) An active member may establish service credit for any period of paid educational service by making a payment to the system to be determined by the board, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated. A member may not establish credit for a period of educational service for which the member also may receive a retirement benefit from another defined benefit retirement plan. A member may not establish service credit for educational service to the extent such service purchase would violate Section 415 or any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code.

(C) An active member may establish up to six years of service credit for any period of military service, if the member was discharged or separated from military service under conditions other than dishonorable, by making a payment to the system to be determined by the board, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated.

(D) An active member on an approved leave of absence from an employer that participates in the system who returns to covered employment within four years may purchase service credit for the period of the approved leave, but may not purchase more than two years of service credit for each separate leave period, by making a payment to the system to be determined by the board, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated.

(E) An active member who has five or more years of earned service credit may establish up to five years of nonqualified service by making a payment to the system to be determined by the board, but not less than thirty-five percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated.

(F) An active member may establish service credit for any period of service in which the member participated in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education, by making a payment to the system to be determined by the board, but not less than sixteen percent of the member's current salary or career highest fiscal year salary, whichever is greater, for each year of credit purchased. Periods of less than a year must be prorated. A member may not establish credit for a period of service for which the member also may receive a retirement benefit from another defined benefit retirement plan. A member may not establish service credit under this subsection to the extent such service purchase would violate Section 415 or any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code. Service purchased under this subsection is 'earned service' and counts toward the required five or more years of earned service necessary for benefit eligibility. Compensation earned while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education is not earnable compensation under the system and shall not be used in calculating a member's average final compensation. A member purchasing service under this subsection who has funds invested in a TIAA Traditional account under a TIAA-CREF Retirement Annuity contract shall be eligible to make a plan to plan transfer in accordance with the terms of that contract.

(G) An active member who previously withdrew contributions from the system may reestablish the service credited to the member at the time of the withdrawal of contributions by repaying the amount of the contributions previously withdrawn, plus regular interest from the date of the withdrawal to the date of repayment to the system.

(H) An active member establishing retirement credit pursuant to this chapter may establish that credit by means of payroll deducted installment payments. Interest must be paid on the unpaid balance of the amount due at the rate of the prime rate plus two percent a year.

(I) An employer, at its discretion, may pay to the system all or a portion of the cost for an employee's purchase of service credit under this chapter. Amounts paid by the employer under this subsection for all purposes must be treated as employer contributions.

(J) Service credit purchased under this section is not 'earned service' and does not count toward the required five or more years of earned service necessary for benefit eligibility except:

(1) earned service previously withdrawn and reestablished;

(2) service rendered while participating in the State Optional Retirement Program, the Optional Retirement Program for Teachers and School Administrators, or the Optional Retirement Program for Publicly Supported Four-Year and Postgraduate Institutions of Higher Education that has been purchased pursuant to subsection (F); or

(3) service earned as a participant in the system, the South Carolina Retirement System, the Retirement System for Members of the General Assembly, or the Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors that is transferred to or purchased in the system.

(K) A member may purchase each type of service under this section once each fiscal year.

(L) At retirement, after March 31, 1991, a member shall receive credit for not more than ninety days of his unused sick leave from the member's last employer at no cost to the member. The leave must be credited at a rate where twenty days of unused sick leave equals one month of service. This additional service credit may not be used to qualify for retirement.

(M) The board shall promulgate regulations and prescribe rules and policies, as necessary, to implement the service purchase provisions of this chapter.

SECTION 9-11-55. Repealed by 2000 Act No. 387, Part II, Section 67R, eff January 1, 2001.

SECTION 9-11-60. Retirement allowances; retirement after age fifty-five; purchases of additional service credit.

(1) A member may retire upon written application to the system setting forth at what time, no more than ninety days before nor more than six months after the execution and filing of the application, the member desires to be retired, if the member at the time specified for the member's service retirement has:

(a) five or more years of earned service;

(b) attained the age of fifty-five years; and

(c) separated from service.

(2) Upon service retirement on or after July 1, 1989, the member shall receive a service retirement allowance which is equal to the sum of (a), (b), and (c) below:

(a) a monthly retirement allowance equal to ten dollars and ninety-seven cents multiplied by the number of years of his Class One service;

(b) a monthly retirement allowance equal to one-twelfth of two and fourteen hundredths percent of his average final compensation multiplied by the number of years of his Class Two service;

(c) an additional monthly retirement allowance which is the actuarial equivalent of the member's accumulated additional contributions.

The sum of the retirement allowances computed under (a) and (b) above may not be less than the allowance which would have been provided under (a) if all of the member's credited service were Class One service. For a police officer who became a member before July 1, 1974, and who was a participant in the Supplemental Allowance Program, the portion of his service retirement allowance not provided by his accumulated contributions may not be less than it would have been if the provisions of the System in effect on June 30, 1974, had continued in effect until his date of retirement.

(3) Reserved.

SECTION 9-11-65. Repealed by 1994 Act No. 420, Section 8, eff May 25, 1994.

SECTION 9-11-70. Retirement allowances; early retirement.

(1) A member in service who has completed five or more years of earned service but has not attained age fifty-five may, upon written application to the board, retire on an early retirement allowance beginning when the member attains age fifty-five.

(2) Upon early retirement, the member is entitled to a deferred early retirement allowance commencing upon the attainment of age fifty-five, which is equal to a service retirement allowance computed as provided in Section 9-11-60(2) on the basis of the member's average final compensation and credited service at his date of early retirement. A member with twenty-five or more years of credited service is eligible for a service retirement allowance without a reduction.

SECTION 9-11-75. Authorization to adjust employer and employee contributions to equal actuarial cost.

The State Budget and Control Board shall adjust the employer contribution paid by employers under the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System in an amount sufficient to offset the actuarial cost of the provisions of Sections 9-11-60 and 9-11-70, not to exceed three percent of payroll. If the employer contribution adjustment provided in this section is insufficient to offset the actuarial cost of the provisions of Sections 9-11-60, 9-11-70, 9-11-210, and 9-11-300, the board shall adjust employee contributions of the members of the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System in an amount sufficient to offset the additional actuarial cost. If the contribution rates as set pursuant to Sections 9-11-60, 9-11-70, 9-11-210, and 9-11-300 exceed the actuarial cost of the provisions of Sections 9-11-60, 9-11-70, 9-11-120, and 9-11-300, the board shall decrease the contribution rate for both employers and employees on a proportional basis.

SECTION 9-11-80. Retirement allowances; disability retirement; periodic reexaminations; discontinuation or reduction of allowances.

(1) On the application of a member in service or the member's employer, a member who has five or more completed years of earned service or any contributing member who is disabled as a result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of the member's duties regardless of length of membership may be retired by the retirement board not less than thirty days and not more than nine months next following the date of filing the application on a disability retirement allowance if the medical board, after a medical examination of the member, certifies that the member is mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty, that the incapacity is likely to be permanent, and that the member should be retired.

The South Carolina Retirement System may contract with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to evaluate the medical evidence submitted with the disability application relative to the job being performed and make recommendations to the medical board. The medical board may approve a disability retirement subject to the member participating in vocational rehabilitation with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Upon determination by the Department that a member retired on disability is able to reenter the job market and work is available, the Retirement System may adjust the benefit paid by the System in accordance with Sections 9-1-1580, 9-1-1590, 9-9-60, and 9-11-90.

(2) Upon disability retirement, the member shall receive a disability retirement allowance which shall be equal to a service retirement allowance computed on the basis of his average final compensation, his years of credited service and his accumulated additional contributions at the date of his disability retirement; provided, however, that, at disability retirement, his disability retirement allowance shall be determined on the basis of the number of years of credited service the member would have completed had he remained in service until attaining age fifty-five and on the basis of the average final compensation. For the purpose of calculating the disability retirement allowance, the additional credited service so determined shall be either Class One service or Class Two service depending upon the classification of the member at time of retirement.

(3) Once each year during the first five years following the retirement of a member on a disability retirement allowance, and once in every three-year period thereafter, the Board may require any disability beneficiary who has not yet attained the age of fifty-five years to undergo a medical examination, such examination to be made at the place of residence of the beneficiary or other place mutually agreed upon, by the medical board. Should any disability beneficiary who has not yet attained the age of fifty-five years refuse to submit to any such medical examination, his retirement allowance may be discontinued until his withdrawal of such refusal, and should his refusal continue for one year all his rights in and to his retirement allowance may be revoked, but upon revocation any unexpended portion of his accumulated contributions to date of retirement shall be returned to him.

(4) If the medical board certifies that the member's disability has been removed and that he has regained his earning capacity, his disability retirement allowance may be discontinued, or if the disability has been partly removed and his earning capacity regained in part, the disability retirement allowance may be reduced proportionately. The determination of the Board as to any disputed question, after due consideration accorded to the member, is conclusive. Should the retirement allowance of any member retired for disability be discontinued or reduced, and should he again suffer disability within five years of the date of his recovery and again lose his earning capacity, he shall be entitled to apply to the Board for a restoration of his original retirement allowance, and the Board may restore all or part of his original retirement allowance. At the expiration of the five-year period, if the retirement allowance has not been restored, all rights in and to the member's disability retirement allowance are revoked. The member then is entitled to a deferred early retirement allowance as provided in Section 9-11-70 based upon his average final compensation and credited service at his date of disability retirement.

(5) After age fifty-five, a disability retiree is subject to the same earnings limitation as a service retiree.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, upon retirement for disability after October 15, 1992, at any age, a member must receive a disability retirement allowance equal to at least fifteen percent of his average final compensation.

SECTION 9-11-90. Effect of restoring beneficiary to service; retirement after return to service.

(1) A disability beneficiary restored to active service at a salary less than his average final compensation shall not become a member of the System and his retirement allowance shall be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of Section 9-11-80(4).

(2) Should a disability beneficiary under the age of fifty-five years be restored to active service and his compensation then, or at any time thereafter, be equal to or greater than his average final compensation at retirement, his retirement allowance shall cease, any election of an optional benefit shall become void, and he shall again become a member of the System and contribute thereafter as provided in Section 9-11-210(1). Any credited service to which he was entitled when he retired shall be restored to him, and upon subsequent retirement his allowance shall be based on his compensation and credited service before and after the period of prior retirement. The average final compensation in subsections (1) and (2) of this section may be increased up to ten percent annually to adjust for inflation.

(3) Should any other beneficiary who has been restored to active employment continue in service for a period of forty-eight consecutive months and his annual compensation be equal to or greater than seventy-five percent of his average final compensation at retirement, then he may elect to cease his retirement allowance and become a contributing member again and void his election of an optional benefit. Any credited service to which he was entitled when he retired must be restored to him, and upon subsequent retirement his allowance must be based on his compensation and credited service before and after the period of prior retirement. Any such beneficiary may request the Board to allow him to repay to the System all monies received by him as benefits during any periods subsequent to the date of his reentry into active service and make a contribution equal to the amount he would have contributed had he been a member during the period of his restoration to active service prior to his again becoming a member, together with the interest which would have been credited to the contributions on account of the period of restoration up to the date the contribution is made. Upon the completion of the payment, this period must also be credited to him as membership service. In no event must the retirement allowance payable upon subsequent retirement be less than the amount of his allowance previously payable plus any increases which would have been payable under Section 9-11-310 had he not been restored to service.

(4)(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, a retired member of the system who has been retired for at least fifteen consecutive calendar days may be hired and return to employment covered by this system or any system provided in this title without affecting the monthly retirement allowance he is receiving from this system. If the employment continues for at least forty-eight consecutive months, the provisions of Section 9-11-90(3) apply. If a retired member of the system returns to employment covered by the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System or any other system provided in this title sooner than fifteen consecutive calendar days after retirement, the member's retirement allowance is suspended while the member remains employed by a participating employer of any of these systems. If an employer fails to notify the system of the engagement of a retired member to perform services, the employer shall reimburse the system for all benefits wrongly paid to the retired member.

(b) An employer shall pay to the system the employer contribution for active members prescribed by law with respect to any retired member engaged to perform services for the employer, regardless of whether the retired member is a full-time or part-time employee or a temporary or permanent employee. If an employer who is obligated to the system pursuant to this subsection fails to pay the amount due, as determined by the system, the amount must be deducted from any funds payable to the employer by the State.

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3), a retired member who has been restored to active employment by virtue of election to the office of sheriff is restored as a member of the system upon taking office and electing to cease receiving a retirement allowance. Credited service to which the sheriff was entitled when he retired is restored to the sheriff and upon subsequent retirement the allowance must be based on the sheriff's compensation and credited service before and after the period of prior retirement. The allowance must not be less than the amount of his allowance previously payable plus any increases which would have been payable under Section 9-11-310 had he not been restored to service.

SECTION 9-11-100. Members who stop police work may withdraw contributions.

Should a member cease to render service as a police officer to an employer, except by reason of his death or retirement, he shall be paid the amount of his accumulated contributions within six months after his demand therefor, but not less than ninety days after ceasing to be a police officer.

SECTION 9-11-110. Lump sum shall be paid in event of death.

(1) Upon the death of any member prior to retirement, a lump-sum amount shall be paid to such person as he shall have nominated by written designation, duly acknowledged and filed with the Board, otherwise to his estate. If the member is in service at the time of his death, such lump-sum amount shall be equal to the sum of (a) and (b) below:

(a) His accumulated contributions, excluding any additional contributions, or one thousand dollars, whichever is greater; and

(b) His accumulated additional contributions. If the member is not in service at the time of his death, such lump-sum amount shall be the amount of his accumulated contributions.

(2) Upon the death of a member who did not select a survivor option or who selected a survivor option and the member's designated beneficiary predeceased the member, a lump sum amount must be paid to the member's designated beneficiary or the member's estate if total member contributions and accrued interest at the member's retirement exceed the sum of the retirement allowances paid to the member. Upon the death of a designated beneficiary selected under a survivor option, a lump sum amount must be paid to the beneficiary's estate if total member contributions and accrued interest at the member's retirement exceed the sum of the retirement allowances paid to the member and the member's beneficiary. The lump sum payment must be the total member contributions and accrued interest at retirement less the sum of the retirement allowances paid to the member or in the case of a survivor option, the total member contributions and accrued interest at retirement less the sum of the retirement allowances paid to the member and the member's designated beneficiary.

(3) An active contributing member making the nomination provided under subsection (1) of this section also may name contingent beneficiaries in the same manner that beneficiaries are named. A contingent beneficiary has no rights under this chapter unless all beneficiaries nominated by the member have predeceased the member and the member's death occurs while in service. In this instance, a contingent beneficiary is considered the member's beneficiary for purposes of subsection (1) of this section and Section 9-11-130, if applicable.

SECTION 9-11-120. Preretirement Death Benefit Program; post-retirement death benefit payment.

Effective July 1, 1968, there shall be created the Preretirement Death Benefit Program, which shall be effective as of that date to all employers under the System except counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions, as well as those State departments, agencies or institutions which pay directly to the System the total employer contributions for the participating members in their employ.

The Program shall be available to those employers exempted in the preceding paragraph by written application of such employer. Applications shall be an irrevocable commitment to participate under the Program. For applications received by the System prior to October 1, 1968, the effective date of the coverage shall be July 1, 1968. For all other applications the effective date shall be July first next following the date of receipt by the System of the application.

Upon proof satisfactory to the board of the death of a contributing member in service after completion of at least one full year of membership or of the death of a contributing member as a result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of his duties regardless of length of membership, whose employer is participating in the program, there must be paid to the person he nominated for the refund of his accumulated contributions, unless he has nominated a different beneficiary by written designation filed with the board, pursuant to Section 9-11-110, if the person is living at the time of the member's death, otherwise to the member's estate, a death benefit equal to the annual compensation of the member at the time his death occurs. The death benefit is payable apart and separate from the payment of the amount provided by Section 9-11-110. For purposes of this section, a member is considered to be in service at the date of his death if the last day the member was employed in a continuous, regular pay status, while earning regular or unreduced wages and regular or unreduced retirement service credit, whether the member was physically working on that day or taking continuous accrued annual leave or sick leave while receiving a full salary, occurred not more than ninety days before the date of his death and he has not retired.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, contributions to support the Preretirement Death Benefit Program shall be made by participating employers to a separate account. The contributions shall commence on the July first following the effective date of coverage and shall be equal to one percent of the compensation of eligible members, provided that such rate of contribution shall be subject to periodic adjustment on the basis of actual experience and the recommendation of the actuary. All death benefit payments made under this Program shall be a charge against this account.

The Board is authorized to take such action as may be necessary to provide the death benefits under this section in the form of group life insurance upon a determination that to do so would guarantee a more favorable tax treatment of the benefit to beneficiaries to whom such benefit is payable.

Upon the death of a retired member on or after July 1, 2000, there must be paid to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, if living at the time of the retired member's death, otherwise to the retired member's estate, a life insurance benefit of two thousand dollars if the retired member had ten years of creditable service but less than twenty years, four thousand dollars if the retired member had twenty years of creditable service but less than twenty-five, and six thousand dollars if the retired member had at least twenty-five years of creditable service at the time of retirement, if the retired member's most recent employer prior to retirement is covered by the Group Life Insurance Program.

SECTION 9-11-130. Survivor may elect to receive allowance for life in lieu of lump-sum payment.

(1) The person nominated by a member pursuant to Section 9-11-110 to receive a lump sum amount if the member dies before retirement may, if the member: (a) has five or more years of earned service; (b) dies in service; and (c) has either attained age fifty-five or has accumulated fifteen years of creditable service, elect to receive in lieu of the lump sum amount otherwise payable under Section 9-11-110(1)(a) an allowance for life in the same amount as if the deceased member had retired at the time of his death and had named the person as beneficiary under an election of Option B under Section 9-11-150(A). For purposes of the benefit calculation, a member under age fifty with less than twenty-five years' credit is assumed to be fifty years of age.

(2) The person nominated may also elect to receive in lieu of the member's accumulated additional contributions, or a portion of it, an allowance for life which must be the actuarial equivalent of the amount of those contributions left on deposit under the System.

SECTION 9-11-140. Accidental Death Benefit Program.

Effective July 1, 1962, there shall be created the Accidental Death Benefit Program, which shall be effective as of that date to all employers under the System except counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions, as well as those State departments, agencies or institutions which pay directly to the System the total employer contributions for the participating members in their employ.

The Program shall be available to those employers exempted in the preceding paragraph by written application of such employer. Applications shall be an irrevocable commitment to participate under the Program. For applications received by the System prior to October 1, 1971, the effective date of the coverage shall be July 1, 1962. For all other applications the effective date shall be July first next following the date of receipt by the System of the application. Members of the System whose employers participate under the Program and contribute under this section shall be considered eligible members for purposes hereof.

Upon receipt of the proper proofs of death of an eligible member in service whose death was a natural and proximate result of an injury by external accident or violence incurred while undergoing a hazard peculiar to the member's employment while in the actual performance of duty, provided that the death was without wilful negligence on the part of the deceased and upon the finding and certification by the board that the death occurred, there must be paid to the member's surviving spouse, a pension of fifty percent of the member's compensation at the time of death. If there is no surviving spouse, or if the surviving spouse dies before the youngest child of the deceased member has attained the age of eighteen, the pension is paid to the children, divided in a manner as the board determines to continue for the benefit of the children until every child dies or attains the age of eighteen. If there is no surviving spouse or children under the age of eighteen years living at the death of the member, the pension must be paid to the member's surviving father or mother, or both, as the board may direct to continue for life. If the member at the time of his death does not leave a surviving spouse, or children under the age of eighteen, or surviving parents, no death benefit is payable under this section. The death benefit is payable apart and separate from the payment of any other benefits payable on the member's death pursuant to the provisions of Sections 9-11-110, 9-11-120, and 9-11-130.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, contributions to support the Accidental Death Benefit Program shall be made by participating employers to a separate account. The contributions shall commence on the July first following the effective date of coverage or July 1, 1972, if later, and shall be equal to thirty-five one hundredths of one percent of the compensation of eligible members, provided that such rate of contribution shall be subject to periodic adjustment on the basis of actual experience and the recommendation of the actuary. All accidental death benefit payments made under this Program shall be a charge against this account.

The monthly allowance any beneficiary is receiving under this program on July 1, 1980, shall be increased by ten percent effective on such date, provided the beneficiary was receiving a benefit on July 1, 1979.

The monthly allowance any beneficiary is receiving under this program on July 1, 1988, must be increased by ten percent effective on July 1, 1988, if the beneficiary was receiving a benefit on July 1, 1987.

The monthly allowance a beneficiary is receiving under this program on July 1, 1992, must be increased by ten percent effective on July 1, 1992, if the beneficiary was receiving a benefit on July 1, 1991.

Benefits payable under this section must be adjusted to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index in the manner provided in Section 9-1-1810.

SECTION 9-11-150. Optional forms of retirement allowances.

(A) No later than the date the first payment of a retirement allowance is due, a member shall elect a form of monthly payment from the following options:

Option A. The maximum retirement allowance payable under law for the life of the member. Upon the member's death, the member's designated beneficiary is entitled to receive any remaining member contributions.

Option B. A reduced retirement allowance payable during the retired member's life, which continues after the member's death for the life of the member's designated beneficiary or, if the member selects multiple beneficiaries, which continues after the member's death in equal shares to and for the life of each of two or more beneficiaries. The reduced retirement allowance payable under this option must be the actuarial equivalent of the maximum retirement allowance payable to the member under law, and if the member selects multiple beneficiaries, the benefit reduction factor must be based on the average age of the designated beneficiaries. If all of the designated beneficiaries predecease the member, then the member shall receive a retirement allowance equal to the maximum retirement allowance payable under law to the member.

Option C. A reduced retirement allowance payable during the retired member's life, which continues after the member's death at one-half the rate paid to the member for the life of the member's designated beneficiary or, if the member s elects multiple beneficiaries, which continues after the member's death at one-half the rate paid to the member in equal shares to and for the life of each of two or more beneficiaries. The reduced retirement allowance payable under this option must be the actuarial equivalent of the maximum retirement allowance payable to the member under law, and if the member selects multiple beneficiaries, the benefit reduction factor must be based on the average age of the designated beneficiaries. If all of the designated beneficiaries predecease the member, then the member shall receive a retirement allowance equal to the maximum retirement allowance payable under law to the member.

(B)(1) A retired member, within one year after a change in marital status, may revoke the form of monthly payment elected and elect a new form of monthly payment, which must be the actuarial equivalent of the maximum retirement allowance payable to the member under law. The new form of monthly payment is effective on the first day of the month in which the new form of monthly payment is elected.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a retired member's form of monthly payment may not be changed more than twice. A reversion to the maximum retirement allowance payable under law upon the death of the beneficiary or beneficiaries as provided in Options B and C of subsection (A) constitutes a change in the form of monthly payment for the purposes of this item.

(C) Members retiring before January 1, 2001, shall continue to receive a retirement allowance in accordance with the form of payment selected under the law in effect at the time of their retirement. the provisions of subsection (B) apply to these members, but changes in forms of payment occurring before January 1, 2001, are not included in the limitation provided in subsection (B)(2).

(D) A member who retired under the provisions of the previously existing Social Security Advance Option before July 1, 1990, may elect to have his benefit adjusted so that cost-of-living and other special increases in benefits are not applied to the amount of advance or reduction in allowance under this option after July 1, 1992, or the member's attainment of age sixty- two, if later, by making a special lump sum payment before that date. This lump sum payment must be equal to the excess, if any, of cost-of-living and other special increases in benefits actually paid to the member, over the increases that would have been paid had the member not elected an optional form of allowance. If a member does not elect to make the payment, his benefit must be automatically adjusted when no such excess exists, but not before July 1, 1992.

SECTION 9-11-160. Allowances shall be paid monthly.

All retirement allowances are payable in monthly installments. Upon the death of a retired member, the retirement allowance for the month the retired member died, if not previously paid, must be paid to the member's designated beneficiary, if the beneficiary is living at the time of the member's death, otherwise to the member's estate. If the retired member elected a survivor option pursuant to the optional forms of allowances in Section 9-11-150, any allowance payable to a survivor beneficiary commences in the month after the death of the retired member.

SECTION 9-11-170. Supplemental Allowance Program.

(1) Effective July 1, 1966, there is hereby established a Supplemental Allowance Program to be administered by the Board as part of the System and to provide supplemental allowances for eligible members as hereinafter provided.

(2) The State shall participate in the Supplemental Allowance Program as outlined in this section as of July 1, 1966. Any other employer may, in its discretion, participate in the Supplemental Allowance Program by making application to the Board to so participate and by complying with the requirements of this section and the rules and regulations adopted by the Board for its implementation. Such application shall be made and the employer's participation in the program shall be effective in a manner similar to that provided for applications for and admission to the System as set forth in Section 9-11-40, except item (2).

(3)(a) Any member who is employed as a police officer by a participating employer on the employer's participation date and whose rate of salary or compensation on such date exceeds four hundred dollars per month, shall become a participant in the program on that date, shall be eligible for a supplemental allowance as outlined in this section and shall make supplemental contributions pursuant to item (9) below; except that such member in the employ of a participating employer on such employer's participation date may, within a period of one month following such date, irrevocably elect not to participate in such program by filing with the Board, on a form prescribed by it, a notice of his election not to make such supplemental contributions and a duly executed waiver of the supplemental allowance which would otherwise be payable to him pursuant to this section.

(b) Any member who is employed as a police officer by a participating employer on the employer's participation date and whose salary or compensation on such date is not in excess of four hundred dollars per month shall become a participant in this program as of the first day of the calendar month in which his rate of salary or compensation first exceeds four hundred dollars per month.

(c) Any person who is first employed as a police officer by a participating employer after the employer's participation date shall, as a condition of his employment, become a participant in this program as of the first day of the calendar month in which his rate of salary or compensation first exceeds four hundred dollars per month.

(4) Upon retirement, a member who has participated in the Supplemental Allowance Program will receive a supplemental allowance which shall be a monthly retirement allowance equal to the sum of (a) and (b) below:

(a) An allowance which is the actuarial equivalent of the member's accumulated supplemental contributions; and

(b) An amount equal to the allowance provided in (a) above.

(5) Upon the death of a member prior to his retirement and prior to his withdrawal of contributions on his ceasing to be a police officer under item (7) below, the amount of his accumulated supplemental contributions, if any, shall be paid to such person as he shall have nominated by written designation duly acknowledged and filed with the Board, otherwise to his estate.

(6) Upon the death of a beneficiary who has not elected an optional form of allowance in accordance with item (8) below, a lump sum amount shall be paid to such person as he shall have nominated by written designation duly acknowledged and filed with the Board, otherwise to his estate. Such lump sum amount shall be equal to the excess, if any, of his total accumulated supplemental contributions at the time his allowance commenced over the sum of the supplemental allowance payments made to him during his lifetime.

(7) Should a member cease to render service as a police officer to an employer, except by reason of death or retirement, his aggregate supplemental contributions, if any, shall be paid to him in the manner and pursuant to the time limitations set forth in Section 9-11-100.

(8) Anything in this section to the contrary notwithstanding, a member who participates in the Supplemental Allowance Program may, in a manner similar to that set forth in Section 9-11-150, elect to convert the supplemental allowance otherwise payable on his account after his retirement into an allowance of equivalent actuarial value, in accordance with one of the options therein set forth.

(9) Each member participating in the Supplemental Allowance Program shall make monthly supplemental contributions equal to six percent of the portion of the monthly salary or compensation in excess of four hundred dollars received by him during his participation in the program.

In addition, each such member may irrevocably elect, within a period of one month following his date of participation, to contribute the amount which would have resulted had he, during each month of his credited service prior to his date of participation, made a contribution to the System equal to two percent of the portion of his rate of monthly salary or compensation in excess of four hundred dollars during the month immediately preceding his date of participation in the program and had such contributions been accumulated with interest at the rate of four percent per annum. If the member elects to make such additional voluntary contributions they shall be made within twelve months after his participation in the Supplemental Allowance Program commences, in such manner as the Board may deem reasonable.

(10) As of the employer's participation date and as of each July first thereafter the Board shall certify to each employer participating in the Supplemental Allowance Program the amount of employer supplemental contribution due the System. The amount of employer contribution payable during the first such period shall be equal to an estimate of the total amount of supplemental contributions that will be made by the participating members employed by that employer during the ensuing period up to the subsequent July first. However, the portion of such members' contributions which is in respect to service prior to the participation date shall be excluded from such estimate. The amount of employer contributions in any subsequent period shall be computed in a similar manner but the resulting amount shall be adjusted by the difference between the estimated amount of such member contributions and the amount of such contributions actually made. The estimate of the amount of contributions that will be made by the members during a period shall be based on the most recent payroll information available as of the date of the certification.

The participating employer shall make an additional level annual contribution for a period of ten years subsequent to its participation date. Such additional contributions shall, in total, be sufficient to liquidate an amount equal to the total contributions by its participating members with respect to their service prior to the employer's participation date. For the purpose of calculating this additional contribution an interest rate of four percent per annum shall be used.

Any forfeitures shall be used to reduce the contributions otherwise payable by a particular participating employer, and will not be applied to increase the benefits of any participating member.

SECTION 9-11-180. Department of Public Safety authorized to pay certain moneys into System on behalf of active highway patrol member employees; use of such moneys.

The Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized to pay into the Police Officers' Retirement System fund prior to July 1, 1967, on behalf of active highway patrol member employees, an amount equal to the sum such members would be required to contribute to the fund for creditable prior service pursuant to Section 9-11-170. The amounts paid into the fund shall be used for the payment of retirement benefits under the Police Officers' Retirement System or shall be refunded to the Department of Public Safety. None of the moneys paid into the fund pursuant to this section shall be disbursed in any other manner to patrol member employees upon termination of employment with the department nor shall any such funds be paid to a patrol member employee's surviving beneficiary as a residual credit to any patrol member employee's account which may have existed upon his death. Provided, however, that the interest accruing after July 1, 1967 on the amount paid into the fund may be credited to the patrol member employee's account just as if he had made the contribution for creditable prior service for his account. Any time that the Police Officers' Retirement System closes the account of an active patrol member employee because of death or termination of employment with the department the System shall refund to the department the amount that it has paid into the fund on behalf of patrol member employees for creditable prior service under the Supplemental Allowance Program of the System.

SECTION 9-11-190. Certain moneys shall be paid into System from State's general fund on behalf of active member employees; use of such moneys.

There shall be paid out of the State's general fund into the Police Officers' Retirement System fund (the fund) prior to July 1, 1967, on behalf of active member employees, an amount equal to the sum such members would be required to contribute to the fund for creditable prior service pursuant to Section 9-11-170. The amounts paid into the fund shall be used for the payment of retirement benefits under the Police Officers' Retirement System or shall be refunded to the State's general fund. None of the moneys paid into the fund pursuant to this section shall be disbursed in any other manner to member employees upon termination of employment with the State nor shall any such funds be paid to a member employee's surviving beneficiary as a residual credit to any member employee's account which may have existed upon his death. Provided, however, that the interest accruing after July 1, 1967 on the amount paid into the fund may be credited to the member employee's account just as if he had made the contribution for creditable prior service for his account. Any time that the Police Officers' Retirement System closes the account of an active member employee because of death or termination of employment with the State the System shall refund to the State's general fund the amount that it has paid into the fund on behalf of member employees for creditable prior service under the Supplemental Allowance Program of the System.

SECTION 9-11-200. Certain moneys may be paid into System by employers on behalf of active member employees; use of such moneys.

Any employer under the South Carolina Police Officers' Retirement System may pay into the Police Officers' Retirement System fund, on behalf of active member employees, an amount equal to the sum such members would be required to contribute to the fund for creditable prior service pursuant to Section 9-11-170. The amounts paid into the fund shall be used for the payment of retirement benefits under the Police Officers' Retirement System or shall be refunded to the employer. None of the moneys paid into the fund pursuant to this section shall be disbursed in any other manner to member employees upon termination of employment with the department nor shall any such funds be paid to a member employee's surviving beneficiary as a residual credit to any member employee's account which may have existed upon his death. Provided, however, that the interest accruing on the amount paid into the fund may be credited to the member employee's account just as if he had made the contribution for creditable prior service for his account. Any time that the Police Officers' Retirement System closes the account of an active member employee because of death or termination of employment with the employer the System shall refund to the employer the amount that it has paid into the fund on behalf of member employees for creditable prior service under the supplemental allowance program of the System.

SECTION 9-11-210. Contributions of members; employer to pay required member contributions on earnings after July 1, 1982; tax treatment; funding; retirement treatment.

(1) Each Class One member shall contribute to the System twenty-one dollars a month during his service after becoming a member. Each Class Two member shall contribute to the System six and one-half percent of his compensation.

(2) Any police officer who is a participant in the Supplemental Allowance Program on June 30, 1974 and has not made contributions under said Program with respect to his credited service prior to his date of participation therein may elect, by written notice filed with the Board within ninety days after July 1, 1974, to establish credit for such service as Class Two service by making a special contribution equal to the amount which would have resulted had he, during each month of such service, made contributions to the System equal to two percent of the portion of his monthly compensation in excess of four hundred dollars during the month immediately preceding his participation in the Supplemental Allowance Program and had such contributions been accumulated with interest at the rate of four percent per annum to July 1, 1974 and at regular interest as determined by the Board thereafter to the date of payment. Such contribution shall be paid within twelve months following the filing of the aforesaid notice.

(3) Any Class Two member, other than a member who makes the election provided in subsection (2) of this section, who has credited service which does not qualify as Class Two service may elect by written notice filed with the Board at any time prior to retirement to establish credit for such service as Class Two service by making a special contribution prior to retirement equal to the excess of (a) five percent of his monthly rate of compensation at the time such contribution is made, over (b) sixteen dollars, multiplied by (c) the number of months of such credited service.

(4) Reserved.

(5) The Board shall prescribe by appropriate rules and regulations the manner in which the contributions provided in subsections (2), (3) and (4) of this section shall be made.

(6) Each member who was, immediately prior to his becoming a member, a participant in another fund shall, and is hereby authorized and required to, cause the amount of his full contributions made under such other fund to be transferred to the System within two months of the date of his membership, provided that the service credited to him under such other fund is includable in his credited service under the System. If the amount so transferred exceeds the amount which would have been transferable from the Police Insurance and Annuity Fund had the member made all required contributions thereto in connection with service prior to July 1, 1962 before becoming a member, plus the amount which the member would have been required to contribute to the System on account of service after said date and prior to his actual date of membership, the Board shall under uniform rules and regulations determine the amount of such excess and treat it as an additional contribution which upon his retirement shall be used to provide an additional retirement allowance. If, however, a deficiency exists, the Board shall require that such deficiency be made up by the member within such period of time as the Board may deem reasonable. This subsection shall not apply to a member transferred from a correlated system to whom the provisions of Section 9-11-40(9) are applicable.

(7) The collection of members' contributions is as follows:

Each employer must cause to be deducted on each and every payroll of a member the contributions payable by the member. In determining the amount to be deducted in a payroll period, the employer may consider the rate of compensation of the member on the first day of the payroll period as continuing throughout the payroll period and it may omit deduction from compensation for any period less than a full payroll period if a police officer was not a member on the first day of the payroll period. The chief fiscal officer of each employer shall transmit the amounts deducted to the System together with a schedule of the contributions, on forms prescribed by the Board, to reach the Retirement System on or before the last day of each month for the preceding month. If any employer fails to do so, or if arrears should at any time exist in making monthly payroll reports and remittances as required hereunder and by the rules and regulations of the Board, the compensation of any person or officer of any employer charged with the responsibility of making monthly payroll reports and remittances to the System must be withheld by the employer in each instance of failure to make the reports and remittances until all reports and remittances required hereunder and by the rules and regulations of the Board have been made. The System shall furnish monthly to the disbursing officers of each employer a statement of any failure to make payroll reports and remittances and the names of the persons or officers failing to make the reports and remittances.

Any person failing to transmit, in the manner and within the period herein required, the contributions deducted is guilty of a misdemeanor and must be punished by fine or imprisonment, or both, in the discretion of the court.

(8) Every member shall be deemed to consent and agree to the deductions made and provided for herein, and shall receipt for his full salary or compensation, and payment of salary or compensation less such deduction shall be a full and complete discharge and acquittance of all claims and demands whatsoever for the services rendered by such person during the period covered by such payment, except as to the benefits provided under the System.

(9) Each of the amounts so deducted shall be credited to the individual account of the member from whose compensation the deduction was made.

(10) Any employer may pay to the System on behalf of the members in its employ the amounts which such members would otherwise be required to contribute pursuant to subsection (2) or (3) of this section in order to establish credit as Class Two service for any period of credited service prior to the date on which such members became eligible for Class Two membership or for participation in the Supplemental Allowance Program or any amounts which such members would otherwise be required to contribute pursuant to subsection (4) of this section in order to establish credit for any period of service prior to the date on which such members became eligible for membership. Such amounts contributed by an employer shall not be credited to the members' accumulated contributions, but in the event that a member's accumulated contributions are returned to him upon termination of his membership or are paid to the person designated by him upon his death prior to retirement, any amount contributed by the employer on behalf of the member pursuant to this subsection (10) shall be returned to said employer.

(11) Each department and political subdivision shall pick up the employee contributions required by this section for all compensation paid on or after July 1, 1982, and the contributions so picked up shall be treated as employer contributions so picked up shall be treated as employer contributions in determining federal tax treatment under the United States Internal Revenue Code; however, each department and political subdivision shall continue to withhold federal income taxes based upon these contributions until the Internal Revenue Service, or the federal courts, rule that, pursuant to Section 414(h) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, these contributions shall not be included as gross income of the employee until such time as they are distributed or made available. The department and political subdivision shall pay these employee contributions from the same source of funds which is used in paying earnings to the employee. The department and political subdivision may pick up these contributions by a reduction in the cash salary of the employee. Employee contributions picked up shall be treated for all purposes of this section in the same manner and to the extent as employee contributions made prior to the date picked up.

(12) Payments for unused sick leave, single special payments at retirement, bonus and incentive-type payments, or any other payments not considered a part of the regular salary base are not compensation for which contributions are deductible. This item does not apply to bonus payments paid to certain categories of employees annually during their work careers. Bonus or special payments applied only during the "Average Final Compensation" period are excluded as compensation. Contributions are deductible on pay for unused annual leave.

SECTION 9-11-220. Contributions of employers.

(1) Commencing as of July 1, 1974, each employer shall contribute to the System seven and one-half percent of the compensation of Class One members in its employ and ten percent of compensation of Class Two members in its employ. Such rates of contribution shall be subject to adjustment from time to time on the basis of the annual actuarial valuations of the System.

(2) In addition, the employer of a member who makes a special contribution pursuant to subsection (2), (3) or (4) of Section 9-11-210 to establish credit as Class Two service for credited service which would otherwise be Class One service or to establish credit for service not otherwise credited and an employer who makes a special contribution on behalf of a member pursuant to subsection (10) of Section 9-11-210 in lieu of a contribution pursuant to said subsection (2), (3) or (4) shall make a contribution with respect to such service, determined as follows:

(a) Reserved.

(b) If the special contribution is made pursuant to Section 9-11-210(3), the employer contribution shall be equal to two and one-half percent of the member's monthly rate of compensation at the time such special contribution is made multiplied by the number of months of credited service to be established as Class Two service, except that with respect to any such service rendered prior to July 1, 1974, and after the effective date of the employer's admission to the System such employer contribution shall be based on a rate of one and one-half percent of such compensation.

(c) If the special contribution is made pursuant to Section 9-11-210(4), the employer contribution shall be equal to a percentage of the member's monthly rate of compensation at the time such special contribution is made multiplied by the number of months of service for which credit is to be established. Such percentage shall be seven and one-half percent in the case of a Class One member and ten percent in the case of a Class Two member. The employer contribution required by this subsection shall be paid by the current employer.

The contributions payable by employers under this subsection (2) shall be paid in a lump sum or in installments over such period, not to exceed ten years, as the Board may, under uniform rules, determine.

SECTION 9-11-230. Contributions shall be paid monthly; State funds may be withheld if records or money not received on time.

(1) At the beginning of each year commencing on the first day of July, the Board shall certify to each employer other than the State the amount of employer contribution due the System. It is the duty of the chief fiscal officer of each employer to transmit funds to reach the System on or before the last day of each month on account of each member of the System employed by the employer for the preceding month an amount to cover the monthly contribution of the employer as so certified. The employer's contributions must be included in the budget of the employer and levied and collected in the same manner as any other taxes are levied and collected for the payment of salaries of members. Delinquent payments under this section and Section 9-11-210 must be charged interest compounded annually based on the adjusted prime rate charged by banks, rounded to the nearest full percent. The effective date of the adjustment must be based on the twelve-month period ending March thirty-first of any calendar year and must be established by April fifteenth for an effective date of the next July first. The adjusted prime rate charged by banks means the average predominant prime rate quoted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The adjusted prime rate must be the adjusted prime rate charged by the bank during March of that year.

(2) If within ninety days after request therefor by the Board any employer has not provided the System with the records and other information required hereunder or if within thirty days after the last due date, as herein provided, the full accrued amount of the employer contributions due on account of members employed by an employer has not been received by the System from the chief fiscal officer of the employer, then upon notification by the Board to the State Treasurer and Comptroller General as to the default of the employer as herein provided, any distributions which might otherwise be made to the employer from any funds of the State must be withheld from the employer until notice from the Board to the State Treasurer that the employer is no longer in default.

SECTION 9-11-240. Board shall be trustee of funds; powers with respect to securities and other investments; Board members or employees not to have personal financial interest in moneys.

(1) The board is the trustee of the system and may invest and reinvest the funds as the funds of the South Carolina Retirement System may be invested and reinvested as provided in Section 9-1-1310.

(2) Except as otherwise herein provided, no member of or person employed by the Board shall have a direct interest in the gains or profits of any investment made by the Board. No member of the Board or employee of the Board shall, directly or indirectly, for himself or as an agent in any manner use the funds of the System except to make such current and necessary payments as are authorized by the Board. Nor shall any member or employee of the Board become an endorser or surety, or in any manner an obligor, for moneys loaned or borrowed from the Board.

SECTION 9-11-250. State Treasurer shall be custodian of funds; disbursement; cash shall be kept available.

(1) The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the System. All payments from such funds shall be made by him only upon vouchers signed by two persons designated by the Board. No voucher shall be drawn unless it has previously been authorized by resolution of the Board.

(2) For the purpose of meeting disbursements for retirement allowances and other payments, there may be kept available cash, not exceeding ten percent of the total funds of the System, on deposit with the State Treasurer.

SECTION 9-11-260. Deposit of assets.

(1) All of the assets of the System shall be credited, according to the purpose for which they are held, to one of two accounts; namely, the members' account and the accumulation account.

(2) The members' account shall be the account in which shall be held the contributions deducted from the compensation of members, together with the interest credited thereon. Upon the retirement of a member, or upon the death of a member if an allowance is payable to his beneficiary pursuant to Section 9-11-130, the amount of his accumulated contributions shall be transferred to the accumulation account.

(3) The accumulation account shall be the account in which shall be held all reserves for the payment of the part of all retirement allowances and other benefits payable from contributions made by the employers, and from which shall be paid all retirement allowances payable under the System. All interest and dividends earned on the funds of the System shall be credited to the accumulation account. The amounts required to allow regular interest on the members' accumulated contributions shall be transferred to the members' account from the accumulation account. If a beneficiary is restored to membership, the part of his contributions then standing to his credit shall be transferred from the accumulation account to the members' account.

SECTION 9-11-270. Allowances and other rights are exempt from taxation and legal process; exceptions; assignment.

Except as provided in Section 8-1-115 and subject to the doctrine of constructive trust ex maleficio, the right of a person to retirement allowance or to the return of contributions, a retirement allowance itself, any optional or death benefit, or any other right accrued or accruing to a person under the provisions of this chapter, and the monies of the system are exempted from any state or municipal tax, except the taxes imposed pursuant to Chapters 6 and 16 of Title 12, and exempted from levy and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other process, and are unassignable except as specifically otherwise provided in this chapter.

SECTION 9-11-280. Contracts with members shall be obligations of System only; rights of members upon termination of System or discontinuation of contributions.

All agreements or contracts with the members of the System pursuant to any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed solely obligations of the System and the full faith and credit of the State and of its departments, institutions and political subdivisions and of any other employer is not, and shall not be, pledged or obligated beyond the amounts which may be hereafter annually appropriated by such employers in the annual appropriations act, county supply acts and other periodic appropriations for the purpose of this chapter. In case of termination of the System, or in the event of discontinuance of contributions hereunder, the rights of all members of the System to benefits accrued to the date of such termination or discontinuance of contributions, to the extent then funded, are non-forfeitable.

SECTION 9-11-290. Property of System is exempt from State and local taxes.

All property owned or acquired by the System for purpose of this chapter shall be exempt from all taxes imposed by the State or any political subdivision thereof.

SECTION 9-11-300. Increase in retirement allowances as of July 1, 1974.

For all retirement allowances due on or after July 1, 1974, the retirement allowance payments to any member retired prior to said date or his beneficiary designated under an optional benefit or to any other beneficiary in receipt of an allowance prior to said date, exclusive of payments under the Supplemental Allowance Program, shall be recomputed as though the provisions of Section 9-11-60(2), (a) of this chapter had been in effect at the time of his most recent retirement. Any such benefits payable under the Supplemental Allowance Program shall be increased by ten percent effective July 1, 1974. This section shall not, however, be applicable to the part of any retirement allowance derived from a member's accumulated additional contributions.

Benefits payable due to retirement prior to July 1, 1988, shall be increased by fourteen and three-tenths percent effective July 1, 1988.

Benefits payable due to retirement before July 1, 1989, must be increased by seven percent effective July 1, 1989.

SECTION 9-11-310. Cost-of-living adjustment to be based on Consumer Price Index.

As of the end of each calendar year, the increase in the ratio of the Consumer Price Index to the index as of the prior December thirty-first must be determined, and if the increase equals or exceeds percent, the retirement allowance must be increased by four percent. If the increase in the index is less than four percent, the retirement allowances, as determined above, must be increased by a percentage equal to the increase in the index. The increase in retirement allowances commences the July first immediately following the December thirty-first that the increase in ratio was determined.

All increases in retirement allowances must be granted to those beneficiaries in receipt of a retirement allowance on July first immediately preceding the effective date of the increase. The increase in allowances is effective only if the additional liabilities on account of the increase in allowances do not require an increase in the employer rate of contribution. Any increase in allowance granted pursuant to this section is permanent, irrespective of any subsequent decrease in the Consumer Price Index, and must be included in determining any subsequent increase.

The allowance of a surviving annuitant of a beneficiary whose allowance is increased under this section, when and if payable, must be increased by the same percent.

For purposes of this section, "Consumer Price Index" means the Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners and Clerical Workers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

SECTION 9-11-315. Beneficiaries receiving Medicaid (Title XIX) sponsored nursing home care; effect on benefits; exception.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided below, retirees and beneficiaries under the Police Officers Retirement System receiving Medicaid (Title XIX) sponsored nursing home care as of June thirtieth of the prior fiscal year shall receive no increase in retirement benefits during the current fiscal year. However, a retired employee affected by the above prohibition may receive the scheduled increase if he is discharged from the nursing home and does not require admission to a hospital or nursing home within six months. The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Social Services, and the State Retirement Systems must share the information needed to implement this section.

SECTION 9-11-320. False statements and falsification of records.

Any person who shall knowingly make any false statement, or shall falsify or permit to be falsified any record of the System in any attempt to defraud the System, as a result of such act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or both in the discretion of the court.

SECTIONS 9-11-325, 9-11-330. Repealed by 2000 Act No. 387, Part II, Section 67R, eff January 1, 2001.

SECTIONS 9-11-325, 9-11-330. Repealed by 2000 Act No. 387, Part II, Section 67R, eff January 1, 2001.

SECTION 9-11-350. Compensation used to determine benefits to be subject to federal limitations.

Effective as of January 1, 1996, the annual compensation of a member taken into account for determining all benefits provided under this retirement system is subject to the limitations set forth in Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and any regulations promulgated thereunder. However, the limitation on compensation does not apply to the compensation of an individual who became a member of this retirement system before January 1, 1996.

ARTICLE 3.

RIGHTS OF CERTAIN PARTICIPANTS IN FORMER POLICE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY FUND

SECTION 9-11-510. South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System shall pay certain retirement allowances and death benefits; appropriations.

All retirement allowances otherwise payable to police officers retired under such fund and in force on June 30, 1963, and all death benefits otherwise payable on account of such retired police officers shall become payable under the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System effective as of July 1, 1973, the monthly benefits under the provisions of this section shall be one hundred forty percent of those payable prior to such date. Appropriations for this purpose shall be made annually in the general appropriations act.

SECTION 9-11-520. Rights of participants on June 30, 1963 in service of political subdivisions not members of South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System.

If a police officer is a participant in the Police Insurance and Annuity Fund at the termination of the fund as of June 30, 1963, and if he is then in the service of a political subdivision, agency or department of the State which has not then become an employer under the System, he shall be entitled to a refund of his aggregate contributions previously made by him to the fund. Such refund shall be made as promptly as possible following his application therefor and he shall not be entitled to any other credit or benefit on account of his participation in the fund nor shall he be a member of the System while his refund is being processed. Furthermore, he shall become a member of the South Carolina Retirement System as of July 1, 1963; provided, he is in the service of a political subdivision participating as an employer in such retirement system, but without credit for any service rendered prior to July 1, 1963; provided, further, that if such political subdivision has on or before July 1, 1963 established for its police officers a pension fund in which he is eligible, or required, to participate he shall be subject to the terms and provisions of such pension fund and shall not become a member of the South Carolina Retirement System as of July 1, 1963 unless such pension fund so permits or requires.

SECTION 9-11-525. Increase in monthly benefits under Police Insurance and Annuity Fund.

Beneficiaries receiving benefits under the Police Insurance and Annuity Fund shall receive a fifty dollar a month increase in their monthly benefits effective July 1, 1994.